5th Anniversary of the Nikon Z Series of Mirrorless Cameras and Z lenses - Including original launch video
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We are approaching the 5th anniversary of the Nikon Z camera and lens system. I have to say that I’m surprised how far both Nikon’s Z camera’s and lens’s have come since 2018. As you will see while watching the original launch video, Nikon expects the Z system to be their platform for the next 100 years (until 2117)!
Their original line up of cameras upon launch were the Z6 (which I still use) and Z7. The original Z lens lineup were the Nikkor 50mm f/1.8s, 24-70mm f/4s and the Nikon 35mm f/1.8s. Currently, Nikon has 10 Z mirrorless bodies and 42 Z Nikkor lenses, demonstrating great progress and ambition.
So, grab some popcorn, sit back and enjoy the original 2018 launch presentation of Nikon’s mirrorless (now mirrorless AND shutterless) camera and lens system.
Watch the full Nikon Japan's Global Launch of their long awaited Z Mirrorless Series of Cameras on the 23rd August 2018 from Tokyo. MIRRORLESS REINVENTED THROUGH THE NIKON Z MOUNT SYSTEM. The Z mount system is comprised of mirrorless cameras featuring a new, larger-diameter mount, as well as compatible NIKKOR lenses and accessories.
On there website today, they posted the following message:
It is with great disappointment that on May 2, 2026, Spirit Airlines started an orderly wind-down of our operations, effective immediately. To our Guests: all flights have been cancelled, and customer service is no longer available. We are proud of the impact of our ultra-low-cost model on the industry over the last 33 years and had hoped to serve our Guests for many years to come.
The Flower Moon was in full bloom last evening. The first of the full moons in May, it’s called the Flower Moon because it appears when the spring flowers are starting to blossom.
On a clear blue sky day, I was working in my backyard and noticed a few contrails overhead. I decided to take a look at the site Flight radar 24 to see if anything interesting was approaching the Boise Idaho area. Wow, what luck! Not one but 2 Airbus A380s, the world’s largest passenger airplanes, were heading straight for Idaho.
As you can see, Dixie is not the first to move on from Nikon. Keith Ladzinski was also poached by canon. When you are a distance 3rd place in market share, these types of embarrassments will continue to happen to Nikon.
At some point, I will be done with my event photography business. And when that happens, I plan on exploring other photography topics more fully (that I have been putting on hold due to time constraints) such as food, landscapes and sports. Along with my plan on taking more sports photos, I thought I would expand my Nikon mirrorless camera body portfolio with a body that aligns more closely with that goal.
Today, NASA released a new photo of earth as the crew of the Artemis II speeds towards the moon. It was taken with the Nikon D5 with the Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8 F mount lens at 22mm
After receiving the Nikon Z5II, I immediately took it out for a test drive. I could not be more pleased with the results of this little gem of a camera. Check back often since I will be adding to this collection periodically.
Let me know in the comments if you have any questions.
With yet another Z9 firmware release (ver 5.32), I thought I would put together a comprehensive guide to all 17 of the Z9 firmware updates to date. This also serves as a historical record of how far the Z9 has come, starting with its firmware at birth with version 1.00 upon release.
Purchase a new Z5II camera or camera kit to get a free limited edition NYC Salt X Nikon Camera Strap and Hot Shoe Cover Kit (a $69.99 value).
Nikon Inc. has announced the NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S II, a premium-grade fast telephoto zoom lens for full-frame/FX format mirrorless cameras. This second-generation version of Nikon’s most popular pro-level fast telephoto zoom delivers improved optical performance, faster focusing, and a 26% lighter weight than its first-generation predecessor.
If you have the Nikon Z5II (as I do), here are a few videos produced by Nikon Creators for inspiration:
Welcome to Robert G Allen Photography. I'm a professional multi-disciplinary commercial freelance photographer based in the Pacific Northwest and a Nikon DSLR Enthusiast.
While my career has primarily been as an event photographer, this website represents other areas of photography for which I have professional competency and enjoyment. The resulting front page gallery and single subject galleries are the result of a combination of client assignments and personal areas of interest.